Union protests Sixth Pay recommendations

Members of the North Bengal University Officers’ Association (NBUOA) staged a two-hour dharna today to protest against the Sixth Pay Review Committee recommendations.The All India Federation of University Administrators (AIFUA) wing held the demonstration in front of the administrative office inside the North Bengal University campus at Shivmandir near Siliguri from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., as part of a nation-wide stir led by the AIFUA. They alleged implementation of the committee's recommendations will create a huge disparity in the salaries of the university officers and teachers. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to the Union human resource development minister, Mr Arjun Singh through the vice-chancellor, NBU, urging the minister to ensure salary parity between academicians and administrators under the new UGC pay structure.Mr Mahbub-ul-Alam, secretary, NBUOA, who lambasted the Sixth Pay Review Committee headed by Prof GK Chaddha for not recommending any hike in the salaries or perks of university officers, said if the committee suggestions were implemented, a lecturer would get at least Rs 7,500 more than an university administrator. The disparity, he pointed out, would create a huge gap in the socio-economic status of academicians and administrators, who have almost the same qualities and qualifications.The secretary claimed that despite repeated requests by the AIFUA to the HRD ministry to disclose the terms and conditions of the committee since it was formed in 2006, the ministry has not told them whether the committee would also consider an increase in their salaries and allowances.Mr Alam lashed out at the committee, which submitted its report on 6 October, 2008, completely ignoring their “needs and demands”. He feared that if its recommendations were implemented, teachers would stop applying for administrative posts.The secretary said the West Bengal wing of the NBUOA would meet in Kolkata tomorrow to decide on the future course of their agitation.